Speed-controlling device.



K. L. HARTER & H. T. REYNOLDS.

SPEED CONTROLLING DEVICE.

Patented Sept. 29, 1914.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 24, 1913.

F'y- Z UNITED STATES P TENT; OFFICE.

KARL L. HARTER AND HERBERT THOMAS REYNOLDS, 0F TAMPA, FLORIDA.

SPEED-CONTRQLLING DEVICE.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, KARL L. HARTER and IIERBERT T. REYNOLDS, citizens of the United States, residing at Tampa, in the county of Hillsboro and State of Florida, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Speed-Controlling Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to devices for controlling the speed of automobiles or other motor vehicles which are driven by an internal combustion engine, having an electric ignition system.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a device which, when a certain prev determined rate of speed is attained, automatica-lly short circuits the ignition circuit of the engine, thereby cutting out the ignition device and interrupting the running of the engine. 1 o

The device is constructed and arranged so that it operates in conjunction with an ordinary speedometer, and it consists in a novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In order that the invention may be better understood, reference is .had to the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is an elevation of the device, the wiring being shown diagrammatic. Fig. 2 is an enlarged section through a portion of the rim of the speedometer showing the method of mounting the contact device. Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Referring specifically to the drawing 5 denotes a speedometer of the ordinary type which is suitably geared up to one of the wheels of the car. In the casing wall of the speedometer, opposite each number on. the graduated dial is, an aperture 6 into which is adapted to be inserted a plug 7 carrying a wire 8 which is suitably connected to the secondary circuit of the ignition system of the engine. The connection, preferably, is made at the coil box.

The plug 7 comprises a body having a transverse aperture 9 in which the wire 8 is securedin any suitable manner. The plug body also has an aperture 10 extending at a right angle and leading to the aperture 9. In the aperture 10 is mounted a short piece of wire 11 which projects from the plug, and extends across the graduated face of the speedometer a suflicient distance to come into the path of the pointer 12 thereof, and

thus serves as a contact. The wire 11 is in- Specification. of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 24, 1913.

Patented Sept. 29, 1914. Serial'No. 780,912.

sulated except at its extremity where it extends across the face of the speedometer, the insulation being stripped off this portion of the wire. The inner end of the wire 11 is in electrical contact with the wire 8, and the latter is insulated from the plug 7. The aperture (3 in which the plug seats does not extend entirely through the casing wall of the speedometer, but has a reduced portion 13 through which the Wire 11 passes, and in said reduced portion of the aperture also seats-a short piece 14 of, insulating material which is carried by the plug.

The plug carrying the wire 8 and the contact 11 is adapted to be inserted into any one of the apertures 6 according to the speed "limit desired. Thus, if it is desired to limit the speed of the car to twenty five miles an hour, the plug is inserted into the aperture adjacent to or opposite the number 25 on the dial. Now, when the car attains a speed of twenty five miles an hour, the pointer 12 swings around to the 25 mark on the dial and engages the contact 11, this forms a short or shunt circuit around the ignition plug I, the current passing through the wire 8, from contact 11 to pointer 12, and through the casing ofthe speedometer and the gearing thereof to the frame of the car, where it is grounded as indicated at G in Fig. 1..

The other side of the secondary circuit is also grounded on the frame of the car as indicated at G. The plu I is therefore cut out and the ignition 0% the charges in the engine cylinder is interrupted. When the car slows down and the pointer swings away from the contact, the shunt circuit is broken, whereupon the circuit is again through the plug and the ignition of the charges is resumed.

For preventing the unauthorized removal of the plug 7, after it has been set for the desired speed limit, there is provided a band 15 which is dimensioned so that it may encircle the casing of the speedometer and cover the outer end of theplug. The band is channeled in cross-section to accommodate the wire 8 and the projecting end of the plug. The wire I passes from the hand through an aperture 16 therein. The channel faces the speedometer casing.

As shown in the drawing, the band is in sections which are connected by hinges 17. The meeting ends of two adjacent sections are provided-with a hasp 18 and a staple 19 respectively. Upon placing the hasp over the staple, and applying a padlock 20 to the latter, the band is locked on the speedometer casing. The band fits tight on the speedometer casing so that it cannot be slipped oil endwise, this being also prevented by the end of the plug projecting into the channel of the band. Thus the plug cannot be tampered with, and before it can be reset the hand must be removed, which cannot be done until it is unlocked and opened out.

The device is very simple in construction and can readily be applied to the car, it being necessary only to make the apertures in the casing of the speedometer, and as automobiles are usually equipped with a speedometer,'the device can be cheaply installed.

We claim:

1. The combination with a speed indicator having apertures in its casing; of a plug adapted to be inserted into a selected one of said apertures, said plug having a contact which is in the path of the pointer of the speed indicator, a band encircling the casing of the speed indicator, said band covering the aforesaid plug, and means for locking the band'on the casing of the speed indicator.

2. The combination with a speed indicator having apertures in its casing; of a plug adapted to be inserted into a selected one of said apertures, said plug having a contact which is in the path of the pointer of the speed indicator, a band encircling the casing of the speed indicator and covering the plug, said band comprising hinged sections, and means for locking said sections on the casing of the speed indicator.

3. The combination with a speed indicator having apertures in its casing; of a plug adapted to be inserted into a selected one of said apertures, said plug having a contact which is in the path of the pointer of the speed indicator, a band encirclingthe casing of the speed indicator, said band being channeled in cross-section and forming a housing which incloses the aforesaid plug, and means for locking the band on the easing of the speed indicator.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

KARL L. HARTER..

HERBERT THOMAS REYNOLDS.

Witnesses:

A. S. FosrRoN,

CHAs. A. BILUWAT. 

